woodruff



Sept. 25, i923, 1,469,203

A. c. WOGDWJW DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Filed July l. 1922 2 Sheetsy-,LlShee l 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 25,19% y A. C. WOODRUFF DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Filed July 1. 1922 w//vfssf A TTORAIEYS Patented Sept. 25, i923.

UNITED STATES ALVIE C. WOODRUFF,

DIRGIBLn Application filed July 1,

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALvIn C. lVooDnUrr, a citizen of the United StatesJ and resident of Portland. in the county of Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dirigible IIeadlights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dirigible headlights especially adapted for application to motor vehicles and the like.

An important object is to provide a dirigil le headlight having novel means whereby the lamps are simultaneously turnerL either to the right or left as the vehicle changes its direction of travel.

Also the invention forming the subject matter of this application aims to provide a dirigible headlight having novel means whereby the lamps may be tilted about horizontal axis so that the rays from the lamps willbe directed downwardly imma diately in front of the automobile or east some distance in front of the automobile.

A further object is to provide a dirigible light for motor vehicles which is of highly simplified construction, durable in use and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the Course of the following description.

In the accompanying` drawing7 forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same7 Figure 1 is a perspective of the improved dirigible light applied.

Figure 2 is a group perspective of one of the lamps and operating means therefor.

Figure 3 is a detail side elevation illustrating one of the lamps and the operating means therefor.

Figure l is a detail side eleva-tion illustrating a clutch embodied in the invention, the improved clutch forming a means for breaking the connection between the lamps and the steering mechanism in the day time.

In the drawing. whereinfor the purpose of illustration isshown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 generally designates a vehicle having a pair of tubular standards 6 having their upper portions formed with spaced parallel arms 7 arranged on opposite sides of lamps or headlights 8. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 PATENT OFFICE.

OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

HEADLIGHT.

1922. Serial N0. 572,14S.

the opposite sides of each lamp are provided with trunnions 9 having rearwardly directed cranks 10, the said cranks being rigid with the trunnions. The end, portions of the trunnions 9 extend beyond the cranks 10 and are rotatably connected to the terminal portions of brackets 1Q secured on the upper portion of the arms 7. It will be seen that the brackets 12 which are rigidly secured to the arms 7 rotatably support the lamps S so that the same may move about a horizontal aXis for moving the light rays to a desired position.

In carrying out the invention the cranks l() of which there are two are operated by vertically movable arms 14 having lower bearing portions 15 which are slidable through the tubular standard 6 as illustrated particularly in Figures 1 and 3. The upper portions of the arms 11i are formed with spi ccd ears 16 pivoted on opposite sides of the cranks 1() as indicated at 17. Figure 3 illustrates that when the arms 142 are elevated the cranks will move about a horizontal axis and consequently the lamps 8 will be also turned about a horizontal axis.

As illust-rated in Figures 2 and the intermediate portions of the rods 141 are oiiset as indicated at 118 so that the lower bearing portions may pass through the tubular standards (3. The lower portion of each rod 14 or more particularly the bearing portion 15 is providedwith a collar 1S having upper and lower fianges 19 which constitute what might be said to be a recess or pocket for the reception of L-shaped cranks 20.

The cranks Q0 which are of L-shaped formation are rigidly secured to a transversely extending shaft rotatably carried by upstanding brackets 23 of base plates Qdi. lilith reference to Figures 1 and 3 it will be seen that one end of the shaft Q2 is provided with a downwardly extending crank 26 having its lower portion connected Ato an operating wire or rod 28. Thel wire 28 passes through a cable 29 and terminates rearwardly of the vehicle dash B0. The rear terminal portion of the rod 28 may be provided with a suitable handle 32 by means of which the flexible element 28 may be drawn rearwardly when desired.

lVhen the fiexible element 28 is drawn rearwardly, the shaft 22 is rocked, thereby moving the L-shaped cranks 2() upwardly. That is to say those branches of the L-shaped cranks 20 which are connected to the flanges 19 are moved upwardly so to also move the rods 14'upwardly.

lVhen the rods or links 14 are elevated the lamps are turned about a horizontal axis. The rear side of each tubular standard 6 is cut away and is open indicated at 30 so as toallow the collars 18 to move freely when operated by the L-shaped cranks 20.

However, the ends of the openings 30 limit the endwise movement of the collars 18 and consequently limit the turning movement of the lamps.

W'hen the handle 32 and the cable- 28 is released, the lamps are returned to their original positions by means of a spring 36 trained about the shaft 22 and having one terminal portion anchored to a bracing rod 37 as .indicated at 38. The other end portion of the coiled spring 86 is engaged with the adjacent crank 2O and urges the same downwardly, whereby the lamps are at all times urged to their original positions. VIn carrying out the invention the tubular standards 6 are mounted upon cylindrical supporting members 40 carried by the base plates 24. The members 40 are in the nature of lugs and extend into the tubular standards for rotatably supporting the same. However, as illustrated in lTigure 3 the lugs 4() terminate beneath the lower ends of the rods 14. Y

The means for turning the lamps about a vertical axis includes forwardly directed arms or cranks 43 having longitudinal slots tov receive pivot pins 44 carried by the end portions of a longitudinally movable rod 45. The rod 45 is movable transversely of the vehicle and isV passed through the upstanding brackets 23 and one end of the rod 45 is provided with a head having a vertical slot 46 for the reception of a crank 47 carried by a longitudinally extending shaft 48. The longitudinally extending shaft or rod 48 is rotatablycarried by bearings 150 andV has connection with a crank 49 which in turn is connected to an attaching bar 5() joined as indicated at 51 with the steering mechanism of the vehicle.

The driving connection between the` crank 49 and the longitudinally extending shaft 48 is not constant as during the day` it is not necessary to turn the lamps when the vehicle changes itsv direction of travel. Therefore, I have provided a clutch consisting of sections 52 and 53, the section 53 being rigidly secured to the shaft and having tongues or driving fingers 54 adapted to be received in notches 55 in the section 52.

The section 52 is `formed at the upper end ofv A 54 will be received within the notches 55 the sections 52 and 53 and consequently a driving connection between the crank 49 and the longitudinally extending shaft.

The shaft 48 may be moved longitudin nally by the rotation of a sleeve 60 having a radial projection 61 in contact with the inclined face or edge 63 of a stationary bracket 64. The sleeve 60 is rotatable on the shaft 48 and contacts with one side of a stationary shoulder or sleeve 64 on the shaft. That is to say the member 64 is Arigidly secured to the shaft 48 and when the radial projection is moved toward the attaching portion of the stationary bracket 64 the shaft will move longitudinally so `as to establish a driving connection between the sections 52 and 53. Then the radial projection is moved into the position illustrated in Figure 1 or when it is moved inwardly, the turning of the wheels will result in the turning of the headc lights. lVlien it is desired to break the connection between the steering and the front wheels, it is merely necessary to move the radial projection 61 outwardly to the full line position illustrated in Figure 4 whereupon the operation of the steering wheel has no effect whatever upon the lamps.

lvlith reference to the foregoing description taken in connection withrthe accomaanying drawings, it will be apparent that a dirigible headlight constructed in accordance with this invention will be turned'to correspond to the direction of travel of the vehicle so as to effectively illuminate the roadway.

It will also be seen that the driving connection between the lamps and the steering mechanismmay be readily and conveniently broken so that the lamps will not be turned in the day time. i 1 j Y Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. The combination of a pair of tubular standards having spaced arms,- brackets connected to said arms, lamps arranged between 110 said arms and having laterally projecting trunnions rotatably connected to said bracke-ts, said trunnions being provided with cranks, vertically movable rods connected to said cranks and having their intermediate 115 portions offset and their lower portions slidlable through said tubular standards, base plates having upstanding lugs received in said tubular standards for rotatablyy supporting the standards, collars mounted on said rods and having recesses, and an operating shaft having cranks received in vsaid recesses and forming a means for elevating the same. l j

2. The combination of a pair of base Yplates having upstanding brackets and up- Vstanding lugs, standards rotatably mounted on said lugs and having upwardly directed arms, brackets connected to the upper porl tions of said arms, headlights having trun 130 nions rotatably connected to said second named brackets, vertically movable rods having connection with said trunnions for rotating the same, the lower portions of said rods being` slidable through said standards, collars mounted on said rods and having pairs oit flanges constituting recesses, a shaft rotatably supported by said brackets and having cranks provided with branches received in said recesses, said standards being provided With recesses receiving said collars, the ends of said second named recesses constitutingl stop elements to limit the vertical iovenient ol the rods. and means connected to said operating shaft for rocking the same and consequently turning said headlights about a horiaontal axis.

3. The combination of a pair of spaced plates having upstanding brackets and upstanding lugs, standards rotatably mounted on said lugs and having upwardly directed arms, brackets connected to the upper portions oli said arms, headlights having trunnions rotatably connected to said second named brackets, vertically movable rods having connection with said. trunnions Yilor rotating the saine, the lower portions of said rods being slidable through said standards, collars mounted on said rods and having pairs ot flanges constitutingr recesses, a. shaft rotatably supported by said first named brackets and having cranks pro iided with branches'received in said recesses, said standards being provided with recesses receiving said collars, the ends of said second named recesses constitutingr stop elements to limit the vertical movement ol the rods, means connected to said operating shaft for rock ing the same and consequently turning said headlights about a horizontal axis, and a spring associated with said shaft and engaging one of said cranks for normally holding the rods in their lowermost positions.

4l. The conibination with a, standard having arms, brackets rigidly secured to the upper portions ot said arms, a light projector having trunnions rotatably connected to said brackets, one of said trunnions being provided with a crank, a vertically movable rod connected to said crank for tilting the light projector' about a horizontal axis, manually controlled means for moving said rod vertically, said standards being provided with a crank, a control shaft operatively connected to said crank, a pair ot clutch sections mounted on said shaft, one ot the clutch sections being lined ou the shaft and the other being movable, and an operating member' having connection with one of said sections and having means whereby the same may be engaged with the other section, whereby to establish a driving connection between the operating means and the shaft.

ALVIE C. WOODRUFF. 

